VERMILLION: The fall of Zaleon

Chapter 1

    Leopold had often thought of an alternative story ending for his last day on Boraq, with his beloved Cassandra, and although he was in the process of revealing the truth to the two most important people of Zaleon -a planet of his own creation- within his own  mind, he decided to rewatch a memory that was completely false. Blinded by pain and sorrow he opened up the scene, and watched himself arrive at the castle of the water people the day he had set off to propose. Avoiding Queen Emilda’s gaze, he trotted off to the corridors of the third floor where he knew his woman would be, pacing and striding till she was ready to reunite with the rest of the crowd. Though it would not be something she would be doing, for this time Leopold had come prepared and had already assumed the worst. 

    As he caught sight of her, he grabbed onto her hand and pulled her into the darkness of a passage, the same one where poor, old Heriam Polestire had been murdered viciously by none other than Cassandra herself in an attempt to save her love. Yet there they stood, unaware and unconscious of the dangers of their location, looking into each other’s eyes, and grabbing onto the fabric of each other’s clothing as if they would disappear in the next minute. Of course, the details had been carefully inserted knowing the severity of what could happen if something went wrong, and with the most immaculate detail Leopold continued dreaming, losing himself in a life that wasn’t really his own to remember. 

    ‘Leo, what are you doing here? If my father found out-’

    ‘Cassie, there’s something important we need to discuss’ he began, grabbing tightly onto her hand as he began leading her away from the fronts of the passage to the closest guest bedroom in the castle. 

    ‘Leopold, what’s wrong? What’s happening?’ She questioned, the thought of the party that had been taking place on her lands had been long forgotten with the very emanation of his words. As usual the woman had assumed the worst, and she clutched onto him as if he were about to leave her for good. Noticing this, he held her tight, closing the door to the guest room behind her. 

    ‘Nothing is wrong my love, everything is right. There’s just one thing I really need to do, before it’s too late, before other things get in the way’ he began, and she continued worrying about what the outcome would be. Slowly, he disentangled himself from her, and bent down on one knee, and she gasped immediately, knowing what was coming. 

    ‘Leo, what are you-’

    ‘Marry me Cassandra. Marry me right now, this instant. We have been sneaking around for 6 years, hiding and keeping away from the gaze of all others, but there’s really nothing I wish more in my life than to be with you, publicly. I have loved you since the very day I saw you in that cell, and from that very day I wanted to spend my life with you. So marry me now, and let’s end this nonsense’ his words had surely taken her breath away, but it had also intercepted her ability to speak, and so she stood absolutely mute, tears welled up in her eyes as she thought of all possible outcomes of the scenario. Her answer was evidently a yes, but in that moment of great emotion, all she could do was let tears stream down her face as she nodded her face hysterically, and allowed her man to place the ring on her finger, and spin her around in a hug. 

    ‘Leo, I would have married you that very day in the cell if you had asked me, but the question remains: how are we supposed to do this without anyone finding out?’ she whispered to him. 

    Though the truth was that it was already too late. In this particular alternative one person had caught onto what was going on, and that person was none other than Queen Emilda. She had stood by the foot of the door, and had managed to peer in to see what had been happening inside. Remaining silent, she closed the door to conceal herself, and took deep breaths to calm herself down at what she had just seen. Confusion piled up and soon she had to proceed to answer all her questions herself, revealing the entire image that she had never seen before. This was the reason why Cassandra was so against marriage. This was the reason why she was always sneaking in and out of the castle. This was the reason Jerome and her had quarrelled. This was the reason the Queen had travelled to the castle of the fire kingdom, and thought that the man who she believed to be an enemy had actually taken advantage of his daughter. Albeit in actuality, the man was not an enemy, but the secret lover of her daughter. Glancing at the content face of her daughter, and taking into the account the 6 years mentioned before that they had been in love with each other, there was truly nothing that Queen Emilda could say or do from that moment, to separate her own daughter from her love. No matter how much she hated the fire kingdom, she was first and foremost, a mother, and that meant that putting behind all her other emotions was worth the sacrifice. Coming to acceptance, she peered the door open once again to listen into their plan. 

    ‘There’s no point in running Cassie, everyone knows us. The only option we have is facing our parents. We will bring them out to the forest, to common ground, and from there we tell them to make their choice. All I know is that from today I either live with you or die with you. Whatever I do from today onwards will be with you. But, before we do that, I want to be married to you, only then do I want us to face our parents and claim our right to be together’ he voiced, and Queen Emidla had already thought the man brave for stepping up for his love. The boy she had seen all those years ago in the cell, had remained the same after all, and he had chosen to love his own daughter, out of all people. There was no denying that their love was not real, but she was having a hard time processing the fact that her only daughter would soon be married. Taking a deep breath, Emilda decided to proceed with a decision that would be heartbreaking to her husband, yet would mean the world to her daughter, and she pushed the door open, striding in with nonchalance before slamming the door shut behind her. 

    Horrified, Cassandra gasped, and Leopold ran to shield her and push her body behind his. 

    ‘Oh please, you don’t have to hide my own daughter from me Leopold, I’m not going to hurt her’ began the Queen, and the pair had yet to figure out whose side the woman was on. ‘I’m not here to kill you, or banish you, I’m here to help you’ she then mentioned, confusing the pair that could only wearily looked between each other and the Queen. 

    ‘How long have you known?’ Spoke up Eliana, emerging from the shadows of her beloved. 

    ‘I should have known from the day I caught you in the castle of the fire kingdom, though I was too naive to think that my own daughter would be committing treason and running away to live with the son of the enemy’ she responded, and it triggered something within the frail Cassie. 

    ‘I love him mother, I have always loved him. From the day he was brought to our cells when we were younger I have loved him’ she stated in defence of herself. 

    ‘I know, which is why I’m not here to harm either of you’ revealed the Queen, and yet again silence conquered the room as the couple looked between themselves, as if to decide if this was a trap or not. 

    ‘Why would you help us?’ Asked Leopold, more confused than his love, who had been spotting the soft spot her mother had for her. 

    ‘I may be a Queen, but I am first and foremost Cassandra’s mother. As much as I disagree with what’s happening here, I cannot hurt my daughter by hurting you. So here is what you will do: there is a cabin in the forest, on our side, one that Cassandra’s father -the King- and I used to go to when we needed to be alone. No is allowed there, no Royal guards, nothing. It was our private spot. Now water law states that in marriage quarrels like these, if two people are married then no third party may intercept that marriage, not unless one of the members were married by force. So, you will go to the cabin, and I will send someone there to get you married. Once you are, you will return to us, and face King Voltor. He will be angry, but cannot do anything about it because the law does not allow it, besides, he will not harm his daughter or he will have a lot more of my wrath to go through. When he has come to terms with what has happened, we will travel to the forest, to common ground, where we will discuss things with your parents. If they agree to a truce, then that will solve problems for a lot of us, if they don’t then you will be part of us, and you will fight against your own family’ directed the Queen, and the pair listened attentively. 

    ‘How do you know your husband won’t just have me executed?’ Posed Leopold. His previous experiences would certainly not allow him to let loose at any point, for he knew exactly what was at stake. Still, Queen Emilda remained stern and collected as she looked at him with intimidation, and that look enough spoke a thousand words of comfort. 

    ‘My husband cannot go above the law. Not for anyone, not even his own daughter. We have to set an image for our people, and being cruel in this way and going against the law will give others ideas to do the same. Besides, like I said, my husband will have to go through me if he wants to touch any one of you, and as easy as it may seem to you, it is not easy to get through me’ completed the Queen, providing the pair with all the security they needed. Staring at each other, the pair smiled, nodding before they began heading out the door. 

    ‘Thank you, Queen Emilda. I will take care of her, and I will give my life for her’ he stated to his future mother in law, admiring the woman for being a woman so strong and kind. 

    ‘Yes you will son, because if not I will have your head’ responded the woman, with familiar features to Paulina Stem. 

    ‘Thank you mother’ squealed Cassandra, hugging her mother tight before the pair disappeared through the trap doors in the castle. 

    They had followed the instructions of the woman, and rushed to the cabin she had mentioned, where sure enough someone had been present to get the pair married. The ceremony lasted only a couple of minutes, though when it was done the immense happiness lurked around the air in which they stood. They had allowed themselves an extra hour to enjoy their marriage, and consummate their marriage before heading back to the castle of the water kingdom, ready to face their fate. No matter what the decision, Leopold knew now that there was nothing he wouldn’t do for the woman he loved, and that meant ensuring that there was no way for her to sacrifice herself for anything. He would win the trust of the water King, and his parents, and ensure it would all be just the way they had planned. The man had more faith in Queen Emilda than he did his own parents, and he knew that with her by their side they would be alright. 

    Perhaps that’s why the original story had failed, because the pair had attempted to do things on their own, for they were but kids. 

    Arriving at the great hall of the water castle, the pair had noticed that the crowd had cleared out, and the party had terminated. The only people that lurked around were maids that were exhausted from cleaning and guards that had barely slept. 

    Queen Emilda and King Voltor emerged from the darkness, and the clueless King approached the pair immediately, concern written all over his face. 

    ‘What are you doing here?’ Raged the man immediately, heading straight towards him. Before anything could happen, Cassandra placed herself between her father and her husband, and shook her head at her father, who was about to receive the most startling news of his life.

    ‘He’s my husband, father. You must address him with respect’ She announced, and the wide eyes of the King said otherwise. 

    ‘How dare you-’

    ‘Voltor!’ Yelled Emilda from behind, approaching her husband and stopping him from doing anything. ‘I authorised it, and by law there is nothing you can do but welcome Leopold into the family’ she demanded, though it had not helped the King who was only going mad with rage.

    ‘You authorised it? Why? Our enemy! What will he do to our daughter-’

    ‘I love her, King Voltor’ interrupted the man, and that in itself had lost him points. 

    ‘How dare you interrupt-’

    ‘That’s enough Voltor’ interjected Emilda. The King had been losing it, and began pacing the great hall, fuming with fury. ‘This is your daughter’s life. If you love her then this is something you’re going to have to put behind you. This hatred with the fire kingdom, it’s been going on for far too long, even our people are sick of it. You have a duty to your daughter, and to our people to set things right, so let’s try to set things right. Leopold already knows the terms of our lands. Once they are married, no one can do anything about it, and he has agreed that we will attempt to set up a truce with his family, if they agree then that will serve us well, and if they don’t, he will fight for us’ she revealed, and Voltor seemed like he wasn’t buying it. 

    ‘Why would the guy go against his own family, Emilda? Clearly he’s bluffing-’

    ‘I told you before and I will tell you again, King Voltor. I love your daughter, and I will do absolutely anything for her. If you are agreeing to let us exist in peace, then so should my parents, if they don’t, then they don’t love me at all, and that gives me no reason to fight for them then’ he responded, and it was enough to silence the King for once. Having nothing to say, the King strode towards the man one final time. 

    ‘If you try anything funny, I will have you killed before you can apologise, do you understand?’ He threatened, and the Prince of fire only nodded his head, in an attempt to not trigger the King any further. ‘Good, now let’s get your parents into the forest, shall we?’ He questioned, setting off to organise the meeting. Before leaving, Queen Emilda gave the pair just a hint of a smile, and nodded briefly before she too, disappeared from sight to prepare for what was to come. 

    In the meantime as the pair were left alone they could not believe their eyes: they had been accepted, and no harm had come to them in the water kingdom. They were free to be married. 

    Soon they found themselves trekking their way to the forest, where Queen Viana and King Alek had already been present, and found themselves confused when their own son emerged from the bushes, holding the hand of a woman they managed to recognise as the daughter of their enemy, as the enemy themselves walked out of the bushes. 

    ‘Leopold, what is the meaning of this dear?’ Began Queen Viana, already fuming at the sight ahead of her. King Alek remained silent, though his eyes had been burning at the entangled hands of the pair. 

    ‘Well, it seems, Viana, that your son and my daughter are married’ revealed Queen Emilda in response, and the shock on their faces contained several hints of anger and loathing. 

    ‘Leo, is this true?’ Asked the King, his eyes glaring holes at his own son. 

    ‘Yes, father. I love Cassandra, and I married her’ he responded, and before his father could proceed any further, he butted in again. ‘I know you’re going to hate me for this, but remind me again why we need to keep fighting against each other? Why can’t this endless battle end already? I am your son, if you love me even in the slightest, then do this for me, accept me, accept Cassandra, end this war, I beg of you’ he added, and just as King Alek was about to speak, Queen Viana placed her hand on his chest. 

    ‘No Alek, he is right. We have fought for too long. This battle has been endless, and it is time to end this. I don’t think Alek and I will ever be able to accept you in the family like you think we will, Cassandra, but that doesn’t mean we will kill you. That is my child, and if you make him happy, then so be it. We will stop the fighting between our kingdoms from this day forward, but let this be known, that from this day forward, we expect not to see any of you’ she mentioned. The words had hurt Leopold the most, knowing that he had lost his family, perhaps temporarily, for his love. Though he knew he would do everything in his efforts to get them back, and in the meantime only appreciated that he could  finally live a happy life with his woman. 

    The deal had been set and done, and the pair were free to go and live their life the way they wished too, and after all, that is all the flame ever wanted for himself. 

    Unfortunately, that was not the real story of what happened between the tragic lovers of Boraq, and just as Leopold escaped his made up memory, the immortal pair of Zaleon had come out of the more truthful version of the memory, their eyes wide with surprise and their bodies trembling at the truth. 

    ‘Leopold is the flame’ said Eliana, staring at Razaar, who mirrored her expression. 

    ‘This whole time, we’ve been seeing the story of the flame, the story of how we came into existence, and we haven't even known it’ responded the Alpha, equally as shocked as his mate. ‘But, why did the flame show us this? Why only us? What are we supposed to do with it?’ He then asked, raising the more concerning question.

    ‘And why right before we’re headed to Crest?’ Added the leader, having the answers to none. Minutes passed, and none could say anything else, until the Hybrid leader began collecting her things and getting ready for their departure. ‘The flame has brought us this far, I’m sure in due time Leopold will reveal exactly what it is he wants us to know. For now, we should get going, it’s a long journey to Crest’ she finalised, and he only nodded, getting his things together for the day. 

    ‘Trust the flame. Trust Leopold’ was all they had in mind as they gathered their things and navigated their way around the barriers of Gloarian and Tetra. Remo had met them at the initial borders, and so had Paulina to ensure that the plan was clear in their heads, though there were few words left to exchange as the immortal pair of Zaleon embarked on their journey with the new knowledge that the flame had just given them 

    Processing the truth about their planet was something they were finding hard to do given the overwhelm of things already in their mind, and the importance of winning this war was yet to be apparent to them, though they absentmindedly travelled past Tetra through the borders of Crest, where the strongest 6 had already been standing, right in front of the mansion like the very first time, ready to welcome them into their home.

    Realisation dawned upon them that this would be their permanent home for quite some time until they figured out how to eliminate them one by one, but they knew more than anyone that they were now ready and more than qualified for the job. Fake smiles were on everyone’s faces, and as their gazes met, they all knew that this would be the biggest challenge of their lives, but they were all willing to put their best foot forward to win. But the big question was: who would win this war? With a smile Elize stepped forward to introduce the pair. 

    ‘Welcome to Crest’